Friday, January 30, 2015

Erin (Bates) Paine, who suffered multiple miscarriages before being diagnosed with a blood clotting disorder, is pregnant and due on June 8th. She is almost 22 weeks along and is thrilled to be expecting.

Erin and Chad Paine have yet to reveal their baby's gender, but they told PEOPLE that they have chosen names.

"It was one of the most fun things for me and Chad," said the mom-to-be.
"We used to go into the name books and everything, which is kind of fun.
It's a sweet time together."

Even through the heartbreak of her miscarriages, Erin continued to trust in God and lean on her husband and family for strength.

Erin's pregnancy has been tough. She usually spends her days teaching piano lessons but had to put that on hold during the first few months of her pregnancy, as she suffered severe morning sickness.

During that time, Chad, an office manager at Noble Metals, Inc., graciously assumed all the household chores at the couple's cottage in Clinton, Tennessee.

When asked if she and Chad, who grew up with nine siblings, plan to have a large family, Erin replied that, due to her at-risk pregnancy, they are taking it one day at a time.

Erin is thankful for the conservative way her parents raised her, which was focused around making memories as a family and reading books, rather than watching TV. Chad's upbringing was similar.

Erin admitted that she and Chad are not carbon copies of their parents and that they will cut their own trail, but she also said they do not plan to deviate from their parents' ways too much.

"I'm sure we're not going to be
identical or have the exact same standards and stuff like that, but I
think that my parents did an amazing job and I hope we can be half as
good as parents as they were," said Erin.

Thursday, January 29, 2015

The Bates
family is preparing to plant a winter vegetable garden. They have had gardens
in the past, but it is been several years. "Eating healthy is a good
goal," says Kelly. "That's what we're aiming for, but we fall short a
lot of times, probably just because of habit and what's convenient, what's
cheap."

Gil and
Kelly disagree about where the garden should sit. Gil thinks the valley is the
best place. "I'll tell you what. Water rolls downhill," says the dad
of 19. Kelly points to an unused piece of land at a higher elevation. Her rationale?
"Water comes from the sky...everywhere."

Kelly and
her supporters decide to give in "with a good attitude," as the mom
of 19 says. Kelly asks Gil to consider building a playground on the plot of
land she had initially chosen for the garden.

"When
there's a difference of opinion, we try to listen to each person's
opinion," says Kelly. "But it comes to a point when you can see from
their expressions, their tones, their attitudes that...this has gone a little
bit too far. We're not just sharing opinions at this point. There are some hard
feelings that are forming."

The whole
family helps Gil plow the land and prepare the garden for planting. Erin's
husband, Chad, who grew up on a farm, comes over to help.

Lawson drives
three hours to Nashville to record a new song, which was released yesterday. He
took up the hobby of writing music a few years ago. Some of his songs are about
his experiences, and some are stories about other people.

"I am
very excited but also very nervous," says Lawson. The 22-year-old has
managed a landscaping business for several years and still keeps that as a day
job, but he is currently placing more emphasis on building his music career.

When he
arrives in Nashville, Lawson, who has never had vocal training, meets with
performer and voice coach Joyce Martin.

Lawson
records at the studio belonging to legendary bluegrass musician Ricky Skaggs.
His new song, called "Problems," is a duet with Rachel Leftwich, Rick
Skaggs' niece.

While
visiting Music City, Lawson also has the privilege of discussing his career
goals with Ed Leonard, president of Daywind Records.

Upon
returning home, Lawson receives accolades from his family when he plays the
recording of his song.

Here is
Kelly's take on musical training: "Gil and I never had a musical
background and can't even read a note of music, but we felt like it was really
important for all of the children to have music lessons just so we could use it
for ministry."

Lawson,
Nathan, and Trace are asked who they think will be the next Bates to get
hitched. "It will probably be Lawson, or Tori," says Nathan.
"Them girls like to jump ship early," adds Lawson.

Kelly says courtship
is a popular topic of conversation in the Bates family, as the kids like to
tease each other about potential mates, or lack thereof, and try to match-make.

Lawson says his parents don't force their kids to pursue courtship over careers,
or vice versa. Instead, they tell their children to make their own choices, and
they promise to be there to support, encourage, and advise them.

Tune in to UP tonight at 9pm ET/8pm CT for a new episode of Bringing Up Bates, "Nashville Son." For those who can't tune in live, come back to the blog immediately after the show ends for a written recap.

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

After releasing his first CD, Freedom Sure Ain't Free, in October 2013, Lawson Bateshas already started on his second. He released the lead single today. In this new song, called "Problems," Lawson receives a new perspective on life by comparing his troubles to the hardships of others.

"I have come to realize the things we often complain about are nothing in
comparison to some of the challenges others face..." said Lawson of his new song. The 22-year-old hopes the song will inspire listeners to make a difference in the lives of those around them.

Monday, January 26, 2015

Missed last week's episode of Bringing Up Bates? Watch this video of Erin (Bates) Paine's ultrasound, and hear her reaction to finding out that she and Chad are expecting. (Click here for more details of Erin's pregnancy.)

Friday, January 23, 2015

Have you heard the news? Erin (Bates) and Chad Paine are expecting! After suffering a miscarriage last year, the Paines were thrilled when the ultrasound technician detected a heartbeat.

Chad and Erin Paine

"I
couldn't stop smiling, just cause everything was positive," Erin exclaimed after the ultrasound. "It was just like,
'I've got a baby inside me, and his heart's beating.' I couldn't believe it."

Erin's doctor diagnosed her with a blood clotting disorder and instructed her to take a heparin shot twice a day throughout her pregnancy. Erin dreads needles but says it will all be worth it when she holds the baby in her arms.

Gil and
Kelly and 11 of the kids are headed to North Carolina to visit Kelly's mom, whom
the children call Meema, and her three sisters, Kim, Beth, and Becca. Kelly
helps the kids pack.

To prepare
for the trip, Gil and Kelly practice child training with the youngest ones.

"Every
once in a while, we will go somewhere out in public, and we'll realize, 'You
know, we haven't spent quite as much time training the little guys,' because you
forget, you get distracted," says Kelly.

The older Bates
kids say their parents have become less strict over the years. Kelly says it's
because they know they might not have any more children, so they want to spoil
the youngest ones. Gil says it's because they are tired.

The kids
practice "training up," which means standing in a line from youngest to oldest.

"Do
your training during a time that is non-confrontational," says Gil. "Don't
do your training when you get in the situation."

The 13 Bates pile into the van and head to North Carolina. "Nobody else
is as blessed as I am," Meema says when they arrive at her house. "I don't
know of a grandmother that has 33 grandchildren."

The
following day, the Bates visit Aunt Kim's flower shop. "Aunt Kim is like super
amazing at crafts," says Josie. Kim and the kids make a banner for
Bradley's nursery.

"Jeb in
the florist's is like what real life is like," says Gil. The two-year-old
struggles to obey the "don't touch" rule and has to be pulled aside by Mom several times.

"Some
people call it the 'terrible twos,"' says Kelly. "We call it the
'terrific twos,' but whatever you call it, the two age can be full of
energy."

Later, the Bates
stop by a consignment store in search of clothing and toys that are 50% and 75%
off. Their grand total is $329.30, which may sound like a lot, but Gil says
they paid about $1,000 less than they would have if the items had been brand
new.

Back in
Tennessee, Michaella, who is a full-time nanny, babysits two little boys. She
says she wants as many children as she can have.

"I'll
probably be very strict with my children," says Michaella. "I was
very grateful to have been raised that way. I loved the boundaries that my
parents set, and I felt like I matured a lot faster because of it."

When is
Brandon planning to propose? "I don't see it being in the very near
future, but he's full of surprises, so I honestly don't know," says
Michaella. Her boyfriend is graduating from college soon but has liquidated his
savings to pay for school. He wants to be more financially stable before he
marries Michaella.

Erin thinks
she is pregnant, so she and Chad, who recently went through a miscarriage, head
back to Dr. Vick's office to see if they are indeed expecting.

"I was
scared just because of all the memories of the last ultrasounds we had
had," says Erin.

When the
ultrasound technician detects a heartbeat, Erin and Chad are elated. "I
couldn't stop smiling, just cause everything was positive," says Erin. "It was just like,
'I've got a baby inside me, and his heart's beating.' I couldn't believe it."

Since Erin
has a blood clotting disorder, she has to take a heparin shot twice a day throughout her pregnancy. The
doctor shows Chad how to administer the shot. Erin, who dreads needles, is
nervous, but she says it will all be worth it when she holds the baby in her arms.

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

On tomorrow's new episode of Bringing Up Bates, "Training Up Bates"...

The younger kids get a lesson on "Train Up," Gil and Kelly's method for
discipline, and take a shopping trip for the ultimate test. Erin and Chad head to the doctor hoping for some good news. Video preview below:

Monday, January 19, 2015

It's time for another round of Name That Bates, hosted by 21-year-old Nathan Bates. See if Gil and Kelly can identify the family night owl, the pickiest eater, and the kid who takes the longest to get ready.

Saturday, January 17, 2015

The entire Bates clan is looking forward to welcoming the second Bates grandchild into their rapidly growing family on April 10th. Alyssa (Bates) Webster is 28 weeks and 2 days pregnant. She and husband John are thrilled to announce the gender and name of their future little one. It's a girl, and her name will be Allie Jane Webster. The couple is register at Target and Babies "R" Us.

There's no doubt that Mama Jane, Alyssa's paternal grandmother, is thrilled about the name of her future great-grandchild!

Join Gil and Kelly Bates for another round of Name That Bates, this time hosted by 19-year-old Tori. Find out which kid is most likely to have 19 children of his or her own, and hear Tori's reaction to the idea of all her siblings having 19 kids.

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Zach and Lawson
take Tori and Carlin out for a driving lesson. "I'm scared to ride with
them, so I put it off on Zach," admits Kelly. There is a lot of yelling and
teasing as the girls cruise through the hills of Eastern Tennessee, but it's
all in fun.

"Carlin,
she's slightly over confident," says Lawson. "The confidence is way
ahead of the skill right now." Tori is more cautious. Both girls passed
their driving tests.

"This
family lacks good drivers," says Lawson.

The Bates
(minus a few of the older kids) prepare for a camping trip with other families
from their church. Kelly gets all the kids involved in packing. It takes longer
than it would have if she and the older kids had done everything, but the goal
is to teach the younger kids a skill, not to complete the task as quickly as
possible.

Kelly encourages
the kids to keep all the camping supplies organized. "Mommy gets stressed
without organization," she says.

Just as
everyone is about to leave for the trip, Jeb puts a rock up his nose. Kelly
sits him down and tells him to blow out. She is then able to use her finger to
retrieve the rock.

Tori is
allowed to drive the van on the camping trip, but as she is pulling out of the
driveway, she hits the trailer. Lawson says the family has not let her live it
down. "We're tough on cars," admits Zach.

When the
Bates arrive at the campsite, they realize they left a few tents behind, so
they have to get creative with sleeping arrangements.

All the
families gather around the campfire, and Gil, who is a phenomenal artist, does
a chalk drawing. "Chalk art is a great way to communicate a message,"
he says.

The Bates
are short of blankets and don't end up sleeping well, but they still have
smiles on their faces the next morning.

Nothing like driving lessons and a camping trip to
bring out family dynamics. As the Bates family gears up to rough it outdoors –
how do they pack for so many and move the troops all at once? – Tori and
Carlin’s nerves are rattled by older brothers Zach and Lawson as they practice
one last time for their driving test. Later, settling in at the campsite proves
challenging, as not everyone is thrilled to be in the wild. Then as Gil, Kelly
Jo, and the older kids take a canoe trip, 16-year-old Carlin babysits 8 younger siblings.
As daunting as it seems, she fares better than the adults do on the canoe trip.

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Monday, January 12, 2015

What does the Bates family have to say about last week's episode? Read some of their reactions below:

Lawson Bates, 22, says his parents have equipped their children to move out of the house and start families of their own.
"I think my brother and sisters who have already
gotten married and moved out have been doing a really great job," said Lawson. "They
don’t hear me say that often, so I hope they’re reading this! Won’t
happen again soon, ha!"

When it comes to courtship, Gil and Kelly Bates set a few basic parameters and then encourage their children to come up with other boundaries. "I’m sure I will face new and difficult challenges
when I am in a courtship, but until then, I’m happy to say that I
haven’t broken (too many) rules," says Lawson. "Mom and Dad, hope you’re reading this too!"

Erin (Bates) Paine, 23, admits that she has been known to give her younger siblings Popsicles before bed when they come to visit. "I just can’t get used to a quiet
house, so ever since I got married and moved out, I’ve made it a point
to have my younger siblings over," says the third oldest Bates child.

Erin also reveals that, with 18 siblings, she never expected to have a difficult time having children. She is thankful for the support of her husband, Chad. "God knew what He was doing when he
brought us together," says Erin. "While we don’t know what our future holds, we know
who holds it!"

Alyssa (Bates) Webster, 20, shares that it was difficult to adjust to married life in Florida. "My
family’s house is extremely loud and crazy, and in Florida it’s far
quieter, especially since John is gone at work for most of the day," she says. Alyssa admits it is almost impossible for her to cook for only two people, as she was used to cooking for 21 when she lived at home.

Saturday, January 10, 2015

On this week's episode of Bringing Up Bates, 24-year-old Michaella Bates paid a surprise visit to her boyfriend, Brandon Keilen, who attends Bible college in Texas. Here are a few snapshots of the couple, who have been courting since December 30th, 2013. They hope to marry sometime this year, although there is no news of an engagement.

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Gil and
Kelly Bates understand that as their kids grow older, they are going to cut their own trails.

"I
think all of our children are going to make choices that maybe we didn't
make," says Kelly. "But I think the core values, in spite of the
little differences, are the same."

For example,
Zach and Whitney say they plan to let Bradley watch Pooh Bear, even though
Zach's parents hardly allow their kids to watch any TV.

Erin, who
lives only a few miles away from her family, has Callie,
Ellie, and Warden over for a sleepover. "It
gets lonely," admits Erin. "I'm not used to being by myself, and I
really don't like it."

Chad returns
home from work, and he and Erin share a hug and a kiss. Chad joins Erin and the
kids in the kitchen as they finish making dinner. As part of the meal, Erin
serves steamed broccoli, but her siblings aren't thrilled about trying it.

Now that she
is married, Erin has adopted a healthier lifestyle. "I have to be
honest," she says. "My family tries to eat healthy." But with 19
kids, it isn't easy, especially since Kelly grew up on TV dinners.

In Florida,
Alyssa and John also live a quiet life as newlyweds. Alyssa misses her
family but is able to chat with them often.

"It is
terribly hard having Alyssa in Florida because I always want to go see
her," says Gil.

Back at the
Bates house, Michaella packs for a trip to see her boyfriend, Brandon, who
is away at Bible college in Texas. Gil prays with his daughter before taking her
to the airport.

Michaella is
chaperoned by her friend, Amber. She and Brandon share a few heartfelt hugs
when Michaella arrives. Brandon is thrilled to see his girlfriend. He had no idea she was
coming to visit.

Gil and
Kelly discuss courtship standards. "We as parents set general
parameters," says Kelly. They instruct their children to keep Christ at
the center of their relationships and to remain pure. They would like each of their
kids to save their first kiss for their wedding because they know that kissing
in private can lead to other temptations.

Gil and
Kelly admit that they did not save their first kiss for their wedding. Zach and
Whitney intended to but ended up kissing beforehand. They say their parents were
very understanding when they admitted what they had done. Zach and Whitney encourage their siblings not to follow in their footsteps.

Michaella
and Brandon plan to save their first kiss for their wedding, but they exchange
frontal hugs when they greet each other and say goodbye.

Zach
accompanies Whitney to her last doctor appointment before Bradley's birth. The
couple is able to see a clear picture of Bradley's face on the ultrasound.

Erin and
Chad visit a doctor to attempt to find out why they have not been able to sustain a
pregnancy. He runs tests and instructs Erin to take an aspirin each
day, as well as extra folic acid. Erin and Chad are thrilled to have a remedy to try, and they both
give the doctor a hug before leaving.

Tune in to UP TV tonight at 9pm ET/8pm CT for a new episode of Bringing Up Bates. UP will also replay last week's premiere episode, "Meet the Bates" at 8pm ET and 9:30pm ET (more listings on our Showtimes page).

Newlywed Erin Bates is adjusting to married life,
going from a house with 18 siblings to a house with just her husband, Chad. To
help ease the transition to a quiet house and help the heartache of another
miscarriage, she hosts her younger siblings for a sleepover. Meanwhile, eldest daughter
Michael is in a courtship with a young man named Brandon, who is away at seminary
school in Texas. She wants to surprise him with a visit, but how will that go
over with the Bates family’s strict courtship and intimacy rules? Then, at Zach
and Whitney’s final ultrasound before the birth, the couple gets honest about
having a baby – and if they’ll follow in Zach’s parents’ footsteps in every
sense. Later, at an OBGYN check-up, Erin and Chad get news that impacts their
desire to start a family.

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Watch this sneak peak video to see what's in store for Gil and Kelly Bates and their 19 children on this week's new episode of Bringing Up Bates. Tune in to UP on Thursday at 9pm ET/8pm CT. We will post a written recap after the show.

Check out the Bates family tree. Gil and Kelly Bates have 19 children. Three are married (Zach, Erin, and Alyssa), and another (Michaella) is in a courtship. Zach and Whitney Bates have one child (Bradley Gilvin Bates, born October 29th, 2014), and Alyssa Bates Webster is due with her first child in April 2015.

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Gil and Kelly Bates, parents of 19 kids, got pregnant with Zach three months after their
wedding. Like the Duggars, the couple has decided to leave the size of their
family up to God.

Even though
they have a large family, the Bates insist that each of their kids has a unique
personality, and they can tell you what makes each of them unique.

Zach is the
teacher/researcher. Michaella has a heart of gold. Erin is the organizer.
Lawson is the family police officer. Nathan is everyone's best friend. Alyssa
gets things done. Tori is a ball of energy and the family cook. Trace has a highly
competitive nature.

Carlin is
high-energy and very expressive. Josie is quiet (when you first meet her) and
caring. Katie is spunky. Jackson is always growing and thinking. Warden is
always moving. Isaiah has a tender heart.

Addallee thinks of others before
herself. Ellie is miss smiley. Callie thinks she is the boss of the family and
is little miss sassy. Judson is a teddy bear and loves to cuddle. Jeb is full
blast, 90 mph and can tackle his older brother Judson.

How does Gil
afford 19 children? He owns a tree-trimming service, a dangerous but
well-paying job. Gil says his daughters keep telling him to get a safer job.

Gil’s older
sons (Nathan, Lawson, and Trace) often help him with tree jobs.

The Bates
are planning a big family supper. Tori, the family cook, shares her view on
meal preparations: "Here’s what I say: If you want to complain about it, get in
here and cook it yourself. Otherwise, you shut your mouth and sit down and eat
it."

Everyone but
Alyssa Bates Webster and her husband, John, come over for the meal. Alyssa and
John married in May and live in Florida. To make the distance easier, Kelly and
the girls FaceTime with Alyssa frequently. Alyssa is the only one of the three
married Bates children who lives far away.

Life with 19
kids can be crazy, but Kelly, who is often referred to as the "chaos
manager," loves her life. "If we wanted a clean house and no work and
no effort, then we would have no children, but we would miss out on all the fun,"
says the mom of 19.

Kelly sits
down with Gil to discuss a budget for the baby shower they are throwing for
Zach and Whitney and the baby boy they are expecting, whose name will be Bradley.
The Bates' goal is to pull off a beautiful party while keeping the costs down.

Erin shares
the heartbreak she has gone through with her miscarriage. She and Chad found
out they were expecting three months after their wedding, and their due date
was a week and a half before Zach and Whitney's. They were devastated to find
out at the first ultrasound appointment that Erin had miscarried.

"The
hardest thing was to see how much it hurt [Erin]," says Chad.

Although
Erin often gets emotional when her family members talk about Zach and Whitney's
baby, she has decided to be involved in all the preparations.

"It’s
not about me," says Erin. "It’s really about friendship…making the
other person feel special and important. And I want Whitney to feel special and
important because I really am happy for her."

Kelly and
the older girls get together to address envelopes for Zach and Whitney’s baby
shower. Whitney, who comes over to the Bates house often to help out Kelly,
joins her in-laws. Erin and Carlin head to the store to pick up supplies for
the shower.

Zach and
Whitney begin renovations on their baby’s room. Gil comes over to lend a hand.
While they work, Gil shares parenting wisdom with his eldest son: "Bradley
and Whitney are more important than anything else you are trying to do."

One of Gil's
favorite mantras is that "people are more important than projects."

While
setting up for the baby shower, Kelly is informed via phone call that 17-year-old
Trace has been in a car wreck.

"I know
that the family has a tendency to minimize things when they tell it to me
because I panic," says Kelly.

Trace is
shaken up by the accident, but the rest of the family is thankful to find out
that he has escaped uninjured. He had been driving too fast and had slid off
the road.

Everyone
heads to the baby shower. Alyssa and John come up from Florida for the first
time since their wedding.

The
highlight of the shower is having all the married couples, each person with one
hand tied behind his or her back, try to put a cloth diaper on a baby doll. Gil
and Kelly are pros, but Zach and Whitney have a harder time figuring it out.

After the
shower, Alyssa and John go back to the house with the rest of the family to
make a big announcement. Alyssa is wearing a shirt that says "bun in the
oven." Everyone is thrilled to find out that there is another Bates
grandchild on the way! Alyssa is due in April.

"We’re
the last of a dying breed…single guys," jokes Lawson, while sitting with
Nathan and Trace.

Bringing Up Bates premieres tonight at 9pm ET/8pm CT on UP TV. For those who cannot tune in, we will post a recap of the hour-long episode after it airs.

Led by devoted father Gil (50) and his loving wife Kelly Jo (47), the
Bates do everything in bulk while staying true to their values and rules
for their family – which means everyone has chores, little to no TV, only
dresses for girls (though pajamas are worn in private), strictly
side-hugs until marriage (except for front hugs on special occasions),
and more.
With a grand total of 19 children ranging in age from 2 to
25, the Bates are the definition of a “big, happy family.” But lately – as
viewers will see – their simple rural lifestyle in Tennessee is in a
flurry of transitions and is continually challenged by the modern world.

The new season will explore new, ever-changing family dynamics,
as the Bates...

Celebrate the birth of the 1st grandchild, Bradley Gilvin (born October 29th), with son Zach
(26) and his wife Whitney.

Foster the courtship of Michaella (24) and
Brandon Keilen by allowing him to share an extended visit with the
family during the holiday season.

Support Erin (23) and her husband, Chad
Paine, as they face a health issue that challenges their hope of
starting a family

Check in on newlywed Alyssa (20) as she finds her way
in Florida with new husband, John Webster,

the son of a U.S.
Congressman, and makes a surprise announcement.

Encourage Tori (19) to
bring order to the family schedule and step up to meet the challenges of
child training, as her parents have become more lax in their later
years.

To support his super-sized family, Gil runs a tree service and
relies on sons Lawson (22), Nathan (21), and Trace (17) to help him.

Callie Bates

And catch up with the other Bates kids. Gil and Kelly share the personality traits of their youngest 11 children:

Carlin (16) is
high-energy and very expressive. Josie (15) is quiet (when you first meet her) and
caring. Katie (14) is spunky. Jackson (12) is always growing and thinking. Warden (11) is
always moving. Isaiah (10) has a tender heart. Addallee (8) thinks of others before
herself. Ellie (7) is miss smiley. Callie (5) thinks she is the boss of the family and
is little miss sassy. Judson (4) is a teddy bear and loves to cuddle. Jeb (2) is full
blast, 90 mph and can tackle his older brother Judson.

Meanwhile, Kelly Jo navigates all the meals, laundry, homeschooling,
cut knees, birthdays and more as the holidays approach. With the next
generation of Bates couples building lives outside their parents’ nest
and responsibilities shifting to the younger kids – who may not be ready
to handle the pressure – this abundant family will have bigger drama,
bigger challenges, and bigger life events to celebrate in the UP Original
Series Bringing Up Bates.